Ultrasonic fluid heating, vaporizing, cleaning and separating apparatus



Sept. 20, 1966 G. NEUMAN 3,273,631 ULTRASONIC FLUID HEATING, VAPORIZING,CLEANING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 13, 1964 4 Sheets-Shee 1CONDENSATE 9s 7O FLUID TO BE TREATED UNVAPORIZED FLUID AND IMPURITIESGEORGE E. NEUMAN Sept. 20, 1966 G. E. NEUMAN 3,273,631

ULTRASONIC FLUID HEATING, VAPORIZING, CLEANING AND SEPARATING APPARATUSFiled Jan. 13, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ow [A/TO? GEORGE E. NEUMAN BY I adI Tax/1m D Sept. 20, 1966 G. E. NEUMAN ULTRASONIC FLUID HEATING,VAPORIZING, CLEANING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledJan. 13, 1964 CONDENSATE FLUID TO BE TREATED INVENTOR NEUMAN GEORGE E.

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Sept. 20, 1966 G. E. NEUMAN 3,273,631

ULTRASONIC FLUID HEATING, VAPORIZING, CLEANING AND SEPARATING APPARATUSFiled Jan. 15, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FLUID TO BE TREATED uso UNVAPORIZED FLUID AND IMPURITIES GEORGE E. N EUMAN ,4. AMA EV United StatesPatent Ofiice 3,273,631 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 ULTRASONIC FLUIDHEATING, VAPORIZING,

CLEANING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS George E. Neuman, Burnaby, BritishColumbia, Canada, assignor to Neuman Enterprises Limited, Nassau, Ba-

hama Islands, a corporation of the Bahamas Filed Jan. 13, 1964, Ser. No.337,241 17 Claims. (Cl. 159-6) This invention relates to apparatus forgenerating heat, separating fluids and separating particles from fluidsby ultrasonic means.

An object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus forcontinuously heating a flow of fluid by means of high frequencyvibrations.

Another object is the provision of apparatus for separating impuritiesfrom a fluid by means of heat and centrifugal force.

A further object is the provision of apparatus for vaporizing liquidswithout generating pressure therein.

An important advantage of this invention lies in the fact that anyfluid, either liquid or gaseous, can be cleaned, heated and/orvaporizing in a continuous stream without interrupting the flow andwithout having to shut down for cleaning purposes. Air or other gasesmay be quickly and continuously heated. Cleaning solvents may bepurified for further use.

Cleaning solvents are particularly diificult to clean for reuse. Thesesolvents are expensive, and many efforts have been made to cleanse them.This is done at the present time by distillation. This means that thesol-vents have to be cleansed in batches, and the cleaning up of theapparatus is time-consuming, difiicult and messy.

Apparatus according to this invention includes an impeller rotatablymounted in a chamber, this impeller being rotated at high speeds. Thefluid to be heated, vaporized or having impurities to be separatedtherefrom is directed into the impeller during rotation thereof. Thefluid is moved around the chamber and thrown at great speed by theimpeller against stationary blades mounted in the chamber to generateultrasonic vibrations and heat. Centrifugal force throws solid andheavier fluids to a Wall around the impeller from whence they areremoved. The fluid is heated by high frequency vibrations before itleaves the chamber. If a liquid is directed into the chamber, it isbroken down into extremely fine vapor by the high frequency vibrationsand heat, and this liberates any solids and/or heavier liquids carried'by the original liquids. Moisture can quickly and easily be removedfrom gases in this apparatus. The apparatus has been used to separatefatty acids, oils and dyes from the dry cleaning fluid asperchlorethylene, and approximately 100% has been removed.

Examples of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which,

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section through a preferred form of fluidheat-ing, vaporizing, cleaning and separating apparatus,

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of theapparatus,

FIGURE 5 is .a section taken on the line 55 of FIG- URE 4,

FIGURE 6 is a cross section through an alternative form of apparatus,

FIGURE 7 is a section taken on the line 77 of FIG- U'RE 6,

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged section taken on the line 8- 8 of FIGURE 6, and

F-IGUR'E 9 is a fragmentary vie-w similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating amultiple stage unit.

Referring to FIGURES '1 to 5 of the drawings, 10 is ultrasonicfluidheating', vaporizing, cleaning and separating apparatus comprisinga casing 12 having an end wall 13 with an annular wall 14 projectingoutwardly therefrom. A wall or cover 17 is removably mounted on the freeedge of annular wall 14 by means of screws 18. Annular wall 14 forms amain chamber 20in which an impeller 21 is rotatably mounted. Thisimpeller includes a hub 24 with blades 25 radiating therefrom, said hubbeing :fixedly mounted on a shaft 26 which extends outwardly from casing1 2 through bearings 28 which are carried by a sleeve 29 secured to andprojecting outwardly from end wall 17 centrally thereof. This shaft andimpeller 2 1 are rotated at high speed by a motor, not shown, when theapparatus is in operation. Blades 25 have their broad surfaces 30 inplanes generally parallel to the axis of rotation of impeller 21.

A partition or wall 32 is mounted Ibehind impeller 21 between the latterand wall 17. This partition has a collar 34 projecting'outwardlytherefrom centrally thereof and fitting over an extension 35 of sleeve29 extending inwardly from 'wall 17. The collar is secured to thisextension in any suitable manner, such as by means of a set screw 36.The periphery of partition 32 is preferably spaced slightly from theinner surface of annular wall 14 to form an annular opening 3-9therebetween. This opening keeps main chamber 20 in communicationradially outwardly of the impeller with a collecting chamber 42 betweenpartition 32 and chamber wall 17. Port means, in the form of a pluralityof ports 44, in partition 32 centrally thereof form passages betweenchambers 20 and 42 near the centre of impeller 21. A discharge outlet 47is formed in annular wall :14 at the bottom of chamber 42, said outletopen-ing into a collecting channel 49.

Another partition or side wall 54 is mounted within annular wall 14 andspaced outwardly from impeller 21 and between said impeller and chamberwall L3. Partition 54 forms an outlet chamber 56 between said partitionand wall 13, said outlet chamber having an outlet 57 in wall 14 at thebottom of the chamber and opening into channel 49. Partition 54 isspaced inwardly from Wall 13 in any convenient manner, such as by meansof screws 59.

A vapor outlet 62 formed in Wall 13 centrally thereof is provided foroutlet chamber 56. This vapor outlet opens into a manifold 64 from whichan outlet pipe 65 extends. Pipe 65 may extend to a condenser, not shown,in which case condensate which may not have been completely purified canbe returned to the apparatus through another pipe 67 which extendsthrough manifold 64, vapor outlet 62 and partition 54, opening into mainchamber 20 opposite the centre of impeller 21. Fluid to be treated isdirected by a feed pipe 70 into impeller 21 centrally thereof. [Inapparatus 10, feed pipe 70 extends centrally through pipe 67 and issupported at its inner end by webs 72 extending between this pipe andsaid pipe 67.

A plurality of groups 76 of stationary blades are mounted in mainchamber 20 and circumferentially spaced from each other, therepreferably being three of these groups as shown in FIGURE 3. .It will benoted that there is a clear space 77 in chamber 70 ahead of each group76 with reference to the direction of movement of impeller 21, saiddirection being indicated by arrows 78 and 79 in FIGURIES 2 and 3,respectively. Each group 76 includes substantially radiating, stationaryblades 80, 81 and 82. Blade 80 preferably mounted on partition 54,extends substantially parallel to blade 81 and is inclined outwardlyfrom partition 54 and towards said blade 81. Blade 81 is mounted on asupporting ring 84 and extends longitudinally of the blade in asubstantially radial direction, said'blade' having an inner edge spacedoutwardly from partition 54, leaving a passage 85 therebetween, asclearly shown in FIGURE 5. Blade 82 is also mounted on supporting ring84 and extends longitudinally of the blade in a substantially radialdirection. Blade 82 has an edge 90 secured to partition 54 in anysuitable manner, such as by a lug 91, see FIGURE 3 and, this edge doesnot extend all the way out to the outer end of blade 82 but is indentedto form a passage 93 between the blade and partition 54. It ispreferable that the outer ends of blades 80, 81 and 82 extend outwardlyto annular wall 14, see FIGURE 3. In addition to this, blades 81 and 82extend outwardly from partition 54 towards impeller 21. These blades 81and 82 have their broad transverse surfaces extending generally parallelto the axis of rotation of impeller 21. For example, blade 81 has abroad transverse impinged surface 94 and a leeward surface 94a, whileblade 82 has a broad transverse impinged surface 95 and a leewardsurface 95a. Stationary blades 81 and 82 lie in planes that eithercontain the axis rotation of impeller 21 or pass relatively close tosaid axis and substantially parallel to it.

Outlet means is provided for main chamber in partition 54 adjacent eachgroup or set of blades 76. This outlet means is preferably in the formof a plurality of ports 96 formed in partition 54 between stationaryblades 81 and 82, see FIGURES 3 and 4.

When apparatus 10 is in'operation, impeller 21 is rotated at highspeeds. The fluid to be treated is directed by feed pipe 70 into theimpeller centrally thereof. Blades 25 throw the fluid outwardly in aradial direction and towards the groups 76 of stationary blades.Particles and/ or heavier liquids or fluids are thrown by centrifugalforce against annular wall 14. These have a tendency to move along thewall towards the annular opening 39 around partition 32. This movementis helped by the fact that impeller 21 keeps collecting chamber 42 undera pressure lower than the pressure in main chamber 20 since the impellerdraws air and fluid from the collecting chamber through ports 44. Theimpurities pass through outlet 47 and into outlet channel 49.

The fluid is moved around main chamber 20 and is thrown at great speedby the impeller blades against the stationary blades to generateultrasonic vibrations and heat. Any desired temperature may be generatedin the main chamber by increasing the speed of rotation of the impeller.The temperature may be controlled by controlling the speed of theimpeller and/or by controlling the flow of fluid through pipe 70 intothe chamber. If the temperature gets too high or too low, the rate offeed of the fluid to the chamber may be increased or decreased,respectively.

The rapid movement of the impeller blades past the stationary blades inthe chamber causes the fluid to vibrate in said chamber. Vane 80 of eachgroup 76 lifts the vibrating fluid or gas from partition 54 and directsit against vane 81, said fluid or gas flowing around the inner and outeredges of this vane and against vane 82 which directs it back to theimpeller blades. As there is a low pressure area behind each blade 81,this speeds up the flow of fluid, creating a higher vibration frequencythan could be created by the impeller itself.

The fluid is broken up, heated and vaporized in main chamber 20, andpasses out through ports 96 into outlet chamber 56. Any heavy orunvaporized fluid drops to the bottom of this chamber and passes outthrough outlet 57. The remainder of the fluid in vapor form travelsthrough outlet 62 into manifold 64. If the apparatus is used forvaporizing and cleaning liquids, pipe 65 directs the vapor to acondenser. Part or all of the condensed liquid may be returned forfurther treatment through pipe 67. If any liquid gets into manifold 64,it is directed back to the main chamber through a return pipe 100, seeFIGURE 1.

Although the fluid in chamber 20 is subjected to great battering againstthe stationary blades, it still moves fairly freely around the chamberso that there is little if any back pressure generated in the system.Vanes direct the moving fluid against stationary vanes 81, and the fluidthat passes around the latter vanes enters the space between vanes 81and 82, some of it passing out through ports 96, some striking vane 82and being directed back to the impeller blades, and some passing throughpassages 93 at said blades. The groups 76 of stationary blades tend toslow down the movement of the fluid in chamber 20, but the clear spaces77 therein enable the impeller to keep the fluid moving at high speeds.

FIGURES 6 to 8 illustrate ultrasonic heating, vaporizing, cleaning andseparating apparatus which has the main, collecting and outlet chambersthe same as those of apparatus 10. The main difference is that insteadof impeller 21, apparatus 110 has a squirrel cage type rotor 112 havingradiating blades 113 around the periphery thereof. The broad surfaces114 of blades 113 extend generally parallel to the axis of rotation ofrotor 112, said direction being indicated by arrow 115 in FIG- URE 6.This impeller or rotor may be mounted concentrically in main chamber116, or it may be eccentrically mounted therein, as shown in FIGURE 6. Aplurality of groups of stationary blades are arranged around the annularwall 122 of the main chamber with clear spaces 123 therebetween. Eachgroup includes a blade 125 mounted on wall 122 and inclined towards ablade 126 (similar to blade 81) which is mounted on chamber wall orpartition 128 spaced radially inwardly a little from the annular wall toform a passage 130 therebetween. The broad or impinged transversesurface 129 of blade 126 extends generally parallel to the axis ofrotation of impeller 112, said blade also having a leeward surface 129a.Another blade 132 (similar to blade 82) is spaced from and parallel toblade 126 and projects radially inwardly from annular wall 122 uponwhich it is mounted. Blade 132 has broad impinged and leeward transversesurfaces 133 and 133a on opposite sides thereof. A plurality of ports135 are formed in partition 128 and communicate with the outlet chamber137 of this apparatus. Another partition or wall 140 behind impeller orrotor 112 forms the collecting chamber 142.

Apparatus 110 is just a variation of apparatus 10 and functions insubstantially the same manner.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a multiple stage ultrasonic fluid heating,vaporizing, cleaning and separating apparatus. This unit issubstantially two units 10 arranged in tandem. The main difierence isthat the fluid to be treated is directed into each stage of theapparatus at the back of the impeller instead of at the front thereof,as in FIGURE 1.

The apparatus of FIGURE 9 illustrates a first heating, vaporizing,cleaning and separating apparatus 152 and a second heating, vaporizing,cleaning and separating apparatus 154 combined into a single unit. Thesedevices are arranged in tandem, and respectively include impellers 157and 158 secured to a common shaft 159. The fluid to be treated isdirected by a pipe 162 to the central part of impeller 157 of unit 152,said impeller directing the fluid against a plurality of groups 165 ofstationary blades which are similar to the groups 76 of apparatus 10. Acollecting chamber 166 is located behind impeller 157, and ports 167 areformed in partition 168 near the centre of the impeller. Chamber 166drains through discharge outlet 170 into a collecting channel 171.

The fluid after treatment in unit 152 passes through ports in partition176 into a collecting chamber 178 of unit 154, said collecting chamberacting as an outlet chamber for unit 152. The fluid is directed throughan inlet 180 to the centre of impeller 158. Chamber 178 opens into inlet180 around shaft 159. Impeller 158 directs the fluid against a pluralityof groups 182 of stationary blades, which are similar to the groups 76of unit 10, and this fluid passes out through ports 183 in partition 184into an outlet chamber 186. The fluid leaves chamber 186 through acentral outlet 187. If any liquids or solids reach outlet 187, they passthrough return pipe 188 back into the main chamber of unit 152 in whichimpeller 158 is located. Chambers 178 and 186 communicate withcollecting channel 171 through ports 190 and 191, respectively.

The operation of unit 150 is the same as the previously-described units,but the treated fluid leaving unit 152 travels into unit 154 for furthertreatment.

As stated above, this apparatus can be used to treat any fluid in eithergaseous or liquid form. If liquid with or without impurities in solid orliquid form is directed into the impeller of the apparatus, saidimpeller immediately breaks it into a fine spray, and the generated heattransfers it into a vapor. The breaking up of the liquid and the heatingthereof helps to separate the impurities from said liquid. Gas with orwithout impurities or gas and liquid with or without impurities can betreated, thus, the term fluid as used herein and in the claims isintended to include liquid and/or gas with and without particulatesolids therein.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Ultrasonic apparatus for heating, vaporizing, cleaning and separatingflowing fluids, comprising a closed chamber, an impeller havingradially-extending blades mounted for rotation in the chamber andadapted to be rotated at high speeds, said blades having broad surfacesin planes generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the impeller,means for directing fluid into the impeller blades during rotation ofthe impeller, said fluid being moved at high speed along a circular patharound the axis of the impeller in the chamber by the impeller blades,at least one stationary blade extending longitudinally thereof in asubstantially radial direction and mounted in the chamber across saidcircular path near the impeller and forming an obstruction to themovement of the fluid around the chamber, said stationary blade having afront impinged broad surface extending transversely of said blade andgeneraly parallel to said axis of rotation and against which the fluidis directed and a back leeward surface where a low pressure area isformed, said chamber having a clear space on the impinged surface sideof said stationary blade in which said movement of the fluid isunobstructed before impinging against said surface, said fluid flowingaround an edge of the stationary blade between the latter and at edgesof the impeller blades, and outlet means for the chamber adjacent thestationary blade through which fluid exits from the chamber, whereby theimpeller blades moving past the stationary blade generate ultrasonicvibrations in the fluid in the chamber.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a second stationary blademounted in the chamber near the impeller on the leeward surface side ofthe first-mentioned stationary blade, said second stationary bladeextending longitudinally thereof in a substantially radial direction andbeing positioned to direct fluid having flowed around saidfirst-mentioned stationary blade into the blades of the impeller.

3. Ultrasonic apparatus for heating, vaporizing, cleaning and separatingfluids, comprising a closed chamber having spaced end walls and aperipheral wall, an impeller having radially-extending blades mountedfor rotation in the chamber and adapted to be rotated at high speeds,said blades having broad surfaces in planes generally parallel to theaxis of rotation of the impeller, means for directing fluid into theimpeller blades during rotation of the impeller, said fluid being movedat high speed around the chamber by the impeller blades, a group ofstationary blades extending longitudinally in a substantially radialdirection and mounted on at least one of said walls in the chamber nearthe impeller and in the path of the fluid moved around the chamber; saidgroup including a first blade having a front impinged broad surfaceextending transversely of said blade and generally parallel to said axisof rotation and against which the fluid is directed and a back leewardsurface where a low pressure area is formed, and a second blade spacedfrom the leeward surface of and substantially parallel with the firstblade; said chamber having a clear space on the impinged surface side ofthe first stationary blade and in which said movement of the fluid isunobstructed before impinging against said surface, said fluid flowingaround the first blade and being directed by the second blade towardsthe impeller, and outlet means in the chamber at said group of bladesthrough which fluid exits from the chamber, whereby the impeller bladesmoving past the stationary blades generate ultrasonic vibrations in thefluid in the chamber.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including at least one other group ofstationary radial blades in the chamber circumferentially spaced fromand the same as said first-mentioned group of blades.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the first blade of eachgroup has radially-extending side edges and is positioned so that fluidcan flow around said side edges.

6. Ultrasonic apparatus for heating, vaporizing, cleaning and separatingfluids, comprising spaced first and second end walls and aninterconnecting peripheral wall, a partition substantially parallel withand between said end walls and dividing the space therebetween into aclosed main chamber and a collecting chamber, an impeller havingradially-extending blades mounted for rotation in the main chamber-andadapted to be rotated at high speeds, said blades having broad surfacesin planes opening means in said partition at the peripheral wall andradially outwardly from the impeller maintaining the collecting chamberin communication with the main chamber along said peripheral wall, adischarge outlet in the collecting chamber through which liquids canrun, means for directing fluid into the impeller blades during rotationof the impeller, said fluid being moved at high speed around the chamberby the impeller blades, a group of stationary blades extendinglongitudinally in a substantially radial direction and mounted on atleast one of said walls in the main chamber near the impeller and in thepath of the fluid moved around the'cham'ber; said group including afirst blade having a front impinged broad surface extending transverselyof said blade and generally parallel to said axis of rotation andagainst which the fluid is directed and a back leeward surface where alow pressure area is formed, and a second blade spaced from the leewardsurface of and substantially parallel with the first blade; said chamberhaving a clear space on the impinged surface side of the firststationary blade and in which said movement of the fluid is unobstructedbefore impinging against said surface, said fluid flowing around thefirst blade and being directed by the second blade towards the impellerand outlet means in the chamber at said group of blades through whichfluid exits from the chamber, whereby the impeller blades moving pastthe stationary blades generate ultrasonic vibrations in the fluid in thechamber, and any heavy materials in the fluid being separated therefromand thrown against the peripheral wall to move therealong through saidopening means into the collecting chamber.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including at least one other group ofstationary radial blades in the chamber circumferentially spaced fromand the same as said first-mentioned group of blades.

8. Ultrasonic apparatus for heating, vaporizing, cleaning and separatingfluids, comprising a closed casing having an annular wall, a partitionin and dividing the easing into a main chamber and a collecting chamber,said main chamber having a partition wall spaced from and opposed andsubstantially parallel to said partition, an impeller havingradially-extending blades mounted for rotation in the main chamber andadapted to be rotated at high speeds, said blades having broad surfacesin planes generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the impeller,opening means in said partition at the annular wall and radiallyoutwardly from the impeller maintaining the collecting chamber incommunication with the main chamber along said annular wall, a dischargeoutlet in the collecting chamber through which liquids can run,stationary blades extending longitudinally in a substantially radialdirection and mounted in the chamber and axially displaced from andfacing the impeller blades and having broad impinged and leewardtransverse surfaces generally parallel to said axis of rotation, meansfor directing fluid into the impeller blades during rotation of theimpeller, said fluid being moved around the main chamber by the impellerblades, said main chamber having a clear space on the impinged surfaceside of at least some stationary blades, said fluid being thrown atgreat speed by the impeller blades against the stationary blades togenerate ultrasonic vibrations and heat, said fluid being thus subjectedto vibrations, heat and centrifugal force in the main chamber, any heavymaterials in the fluid being separated therefrom and thrown against theannular wall to move therealong through said opening means into thecollecting chamber and discharge outlet, and outlet means in said sidewall and at the stationary blades through which fluid passes from themain chamher.

9.' Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including port means in saidpartition near the centre of rotation of the impeller and maintainingthe collecting chamber in communication with the main chamber, wherebysaid impeller draws fluid through said port means from said collectingchamber to keep a lower pressure therein than in the main chamber.

10. Ultrasonic apparatus for heating, vaporizing, cleaning andseparating fluids, comprising a closed chamber having spaced first andsecond end walls with a connecting annular wall extending therebetweenand forming a main chamber, a high speed impeller mounted for rotationin the main chamber near the second wall and having blades radiatingfrom the centre thereof, said blades having broad surfaces in planesgenerally parallel to the axis of rotation of the impeller, a partitionin the chamber spaced from the first wall and substantially parallelwith and spaced from the impeller and lying between the impeller and thefirst wall a plurality of stationary blades extending longitudinally ina substantially radial direction and mounted near the partition and theannular wall and on the same side of the partition as the impeller, saidstationary blades being axially opposed to and axially displaced fromthe impeller blades near outer ends of the latter blades and havingbroad impinged and leeward transverse surfaces generally parallel tosaid axis of rotation, opening means for the main chamber at the annularwall and radially outwardly from the impeller, means for directing fluidinto the chamber and into the impeller blades near the centre of theimpeller, said fluid being moved around the chamber by the impellerblades, said main chamber having a clear space on the impinged surfaceside of at least some stationary blades, said fluid being thrown atgreat speed by the impeller blades against the stationary blades togenerate ultrasonic vibrations and heat, said fluid being thus subjectedto vibrations, heat and centrifugal force in the main chamber, any

heavy materials in the fluid being separated therefrom and thrownagainst the annular wall to move therealong through said p n g eans fromt e main chamben'and outlet means in the partition near the stationaryblades through which fluid passes from the chamber.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim .10 including an outlet chamber in themain chamber between the first wall thereof and the partition, fluidfrom the main chamber passing through the outlet means in the partitionbeing received in said outlet chamber, a fluid outlet from said outletchamber in said first wall medially thereof, and a drain opening outfrom the bottom of the outlet chamber through which liquids can flow.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 including a second partitionbetween the impeller and said second wall and spaced from the latter toform a collecting chamber, said opening means of the main chamber beingin said second partition at the annular wall and maintaining thecollecting chamber in communication with the main chamber, any heavymaterials in the fluid being thrown by the impeller against the annularwall to move therealong through said opening means into the collectingchamber, and a bottom discharge outlet in the collecting chamber throughwhich liquids can run.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 including port means in the secondpartition near the centre of the impeller maintaining the collectingchamber in communication with the main chamber whereby said impellerdraws fluid through said port means from said collecting chamber to keepa lower pressure therein than in the main chamber.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which the stationary blades arearranged in circumferentially spaced groups of three circumferentiallyspaced blades arranged around the axis of the impeller and casing.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which each group of stationaryblades comprises a first blade, a second blade on the leeward surfaceside of the first blade, said first and second blades projecting fromthe partition towards said impeller, and a third blade on the impingedsurface side of said first blade, said third blade extending generallyparallel to the first blade and projecting from the partition and beingtransversely inclined towards said first blade. 7

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which said first stationaryblade is spaced outwardly from said partition towards the impeller.

-17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which said outlet means islocated between the first and second blades of each group, and part ofsaid second stationary blade is spaced outwardly from the firstpartition towards the impeller.

References Cited by the Examiner UNiTED STATES PATENTS 1,161,116 11/1915Ehrhart. 1,610,830 12/1926 Walker. 1,758,207 5/1930 Walker. 1,997,9374/1935 Laut 1596 2,015,502 9/1935 Trumpler 230- X 2,748,762 6/ 1956Booth 126-247 2,336,716 12/ 1943 Clements. 2,422,882 6/ 1947 Bramley233-18 X FOREIGN PATENTS 88,270 2/ 1921 Switzerland.

NORMAN YUDKOFF, Primary Examinier.

J. SOFER, Assistant Examiner,

1. ULTRASONIC APPARATUS FOR HEATING, VAPORIZING, CLEANING AND SEPARATINGFLOWING FLUIDS, COMPRISING A CLOSED CHAMBER, AN IMPELLER HAVINGRADIALLY-EXTENDING BLADES MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN THE CHAMBER ANDADAPTED TO BE ROTATED AT HIGH SPEEDS, SAID BLADES HAVING BROAD SURFACESIN PLANES GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE IMPELLER,MEANS FOR DIRECTING FLUID INTO THE IMPELLER BLADES DURING ROTATION OFTHE IMPELLER, SAID FLUID BEING MOVED AT HIGH SPEED ALONG A CIRCULAR PATHAROUND THE AXIS OF THE IMPELLER IN THE CHAMBER BY THE IMPELLER BLADES,AT LEAST ONE STATIONARY BLADE EXTENDING LONGITUDNALLY THEREOF IN ASUBSTANTIALLY RADIAL DIRECTION AND MOUNTED IN THE CHAMBER ACROSS SAIDCIRCULAR PATH NEAR THE IMPELLER AND FORMING AN OBSTRUCTION TO THEMOVEMENT OF THE FLUID AROUND THE CHAMBER, SAID STATIONARY BLADE HAVING AFRONT IMPINGED BROAD SURFACE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BLADE ANDGENERALY PARALLEL TO SAID AXIS OF ROTATION AND AGAINST WHICH THE FLUIDIS DIRECTED AND A BACK LEEWARD SURFACE WHERE A LOW PRESSURE AREA ISFORMED, SAID CHAMBER HAVING A CLEAR SPACE ON THE IMPINGED SURFACE SIDEOF SAID STATIONARY BLADE IN WHICH SAID MOVEMENT OF THE FLUID ISUNOBSTRUCTED BEFORE IMPINGING AGAINST SAID SURFACE, SAID FLUID FLOWINGAROUND AN EDGE OF THE STATIONARY BLADE BETWEEN THE LATTER AND AT EDGESOF THE IMPELLER BLADES, AND OUTLET MEANS FOR THE CHAMBER ADJACENT THESTATIONARY BLADE THROUGH WHICH FLUID EXITS FROM THE CHAMBER, WHEREBY THEIMPELLER BLADES MOVING PAST THE STATIONARY BLADE GENERATE ULTROSONICVIBRATIONS IN THE FLUID IN THE CHAMBER.